Sterilizing apparatus



June 1935- K. w. KARN'OPP STERILIZING APPARATUS Filed on. 31, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l fife/"Z Wifczrnoppi 4 June 4, 1935. K. w. KARNOPP 2,003,651

STERILIZING AiPARATUS Filed Oct. 31, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I, ""pllllalli M5 WflZzr/zapp,

Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STERILIZING APPARATUS Karl W. Karnopp, Winnetka, Ill. v Application October 31, 1932, Serial No. 640,407 '2 Claims. "(01. 99-18) I The present invention relates to sterilizing ap- More specifically, the'pres'ent invention includes paratuses orthe like. 7 I I I the idea of disposing the members of these rows Among the objects of the prevent invention is in radial alignment and providing releasable to providea novel sterilizing apparatus or device means for each of the rows of receptacles for 5. adapted to eflicientlysterilize bottles or other simiholding thesame in place, such means being lar and like receptacles, or the-contents thereof, easily and readily operated whereby the recepwhereby the same may be easily and readily placed tacles maybe removed and replaced. I therein and removed therefrom. Other objects, features, capabilities and ad- Another object of the present invention is to vantages are comprehended by the invention, as V 10 provide a novelsterilizingapparatus or the like will later appear and as are inherently possessed 10 in which suitable means is provided for supportthereby. ing a plurality of receptacles or the like'whereby Referring to the drawings: i the sterilizing medium may have substantially'un- Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a device restricted movement throughout the apparatus made in accordance with the present invention,

and around these receptacles for efllcient operwith parts broken away to disclose the construc- 1'5 ation. tion thereof more in detail;

The present invention contemplates the idea Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the cmof providing a novel sterilizing apparatus wherein bodiment shown in Figure 1 of the drawings-with a u ab r p a upp ea s is mollhtparts broken away to more clearly disclose the ed for rotation, suitable means being provided for construction thereof 1 20';

holding these receptacles or the like against radial Figure'3 i a, fragmentary View in cross section displacement t e of retaining means for the rece tacles or the Still another object of the present invention is lik Provide a novel sterili ng apparatus h like Figure 4 is a View in cross-section taken in the in whichfiuitable ns is Provided for pp l plane represented by line 4-4 of Figure 3 of the 25 ing "a plurality of series of radially disposed recepdrawings v tacles or the like in spaced relation circumferen- Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partly in plan t i V v v and partly in cross-section taken in the plane S l a fu Object Of the p sent invention represented by line 5-5 of Figure 2 of the drawis to provide a novel sterilizing apparatus or the -i11g' I [I k in which suitable means is p v ded fo supa Referring now more in detail to the drawings, porting a p a y of series o ad al y disp s d an embodiment selected to illustrate thepresent pta s r t likein pa dl uminvention is disclosed as com rising an outer a fer ntially. nd in which he r ptacles of the ing 2 within which is mounted a receptacle supi s a disp s d in nt u us r lati n l n lporting means 4 for supporting a plurality of bot- 35 tud nally f th supp rt n m a tles or other receptacles 6, it of course being The present invention also. incl s n understood that these bottles may be filled with Jec't the idea 'of pr v novel upp t a fluid or other medium to be sterilized, or the means for receptacles 01717118 k in a sterilizing same may be empty and placed therein for steripp Which includes spaced frame members lizing purposes. In the present invention, these 40 b tw whi t d a p u y of ir umreceptacles are bottles filled wih fluid to be sterf r ntially spa d m m s f d s plu a1- ilized, and the same are sealed as by means of a ity' of rows of receptacles or the like, suitable cap fitting over the open end thereof.

' m a sl p v d d for pr v nt n d spla The outer casing' 2 comprises a substantially ment of these rows of receptacles. cylindrical she11 8 closed at the ends thereof as 45 Another object within the purview or the presby means of the end plates l0 and I2 which are ent'inv'ention is to provide a novel receptacle supsecured thereto in any desired manner to form porting means for a sterilizing apparatus or the a fluid tight joint. This outer casing may be like which comprises or includes spaced frame mounted upon a suitable support 14, as shown,

0 members between which 'ex'tend'inner and outer which in turn may be secured to a floor or other rows of members in spaced relation for receiving foundation.

a plurality of receptaclesor the like, thesemem- The bottle or receptacle supporting means combersengaging' the receptacles in spaced relation, prises a power-driven shaft I6 extending longisuitable means being further provided for pretudinally of the casing 2, and being mounted venting displacement of said rows ofreceptacles. adjacent its ends in the bearings 18 and 20 pro- 55 vided on the end plates or heads l0 and i2, respectively. The bearing 20 is secured to the inner face of the end l2, while the bearing it extends through the plate l0 and is made fluid tight as by means of an adjustable gland 22, the shaft I6 extending outwardly beyond the plate Ill and being provided with a. sprocket 24 driven by the sprocket chain 26 by means of a motor 28. In the embodiment disclosed, the motor 28 drives a gear reducer 30 through the medium of a belt 32, the reducer in turn driving the sprocket chain 26 through the sprocket wheel 34.

Mounted for rotation with the shaft l6 and disposed within the casing 2 is a frame, gener ally referred to as 36, for holding a plurality of bottles or receptacles 6. This frame comprises oppositely disposed frame members 38 and disposed adjacent the bearings; and 20, respectively, and which are connected together and reinforced by a plurality of members 4I' extending therebetween and rigidly secured thereto in.

any desired manner. Extending between the frame members'fls'and 40 is an inner. circular ments for receiving a plurality of series of rows of receptacles.

As clearly disclosed in the present embodiment,v

spaced adjacent members 42 engage the neck portion of the receptacles or bottles6 adjacent, an end thereof, while adjacent members 44 engage the widened body portion ofthesereceptacles or bottles adjacent'their opposite'end. Itwill be clearly apparent that because of the radial disposition of these members 42 and 44, the bottles or receptacles are effectively held against displacement and the sterilizing medium is permitted to properly circulate within the casing 2.

As clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the members 42 and 44' extend through suitable aligned apertures in the plates 38 and 4B and are maintained in position as by means of the pins 46. These rods or receptacle holding members 42 and maybe suitably covered withrubber, rubber composition, or other similar material 48, which likewise serves as a suitable medium for the wedging of the bottles between adjacent members 42 and 44'. In order, however, to positively maintain each series or row of receptacles in its proper position, suitable means is provided to prevent its radial displacement. Such means as disclosed comprises a plurality of retaining members or plates 555 each disposed in opposite relation to the outer end of the receptacles of each series which is adapted to prevent the outward and rad al movement of the bottles. Each of these plates or retaining members 59 extends between the frame members 38' and 49 and is provided with tubular portions 52 and 54 adjacent each end, rivets 55 passing through aligned openings in the frame members 38 and 40 and tubes 52 and 54, respectively, for pivotally mounting the plate or retaining member 59 thereto, these rivets being maintained in their proper position as by means of a cotter or other similar locking member 58. In order to hold the plates or retaining members 50 in the position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, each of the same is provided with a substantially tubular housing 60, within which is disposed a plunger 62 normally urged into its extended position as by means of a coil spring 64. Outward movement of the plunger 62 is limited by means of a lug or pin 66 movable Within a slot 68 formed in the tubular portion and extending outwardly therebeyond. The end of the plunger 62, when the plate is in the position as shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings, is received in an opening!!! for releasablylocking the retaining member or plate 50 in position to prevent outward and radial displacement of the receptacles of a series.

The outer casing 2 is formed with an opening 12 normally closed by a closure member 14, suitably hinged as at I5, whereby sterilized receptacles or the like maybe removed from the receptacle. supporting means 36, and other receptacles or the like to be sterilized may be introducedand placed in position therein. The closure member 14 is held in fluid-tight association with the casing 2 by means of locking bars 16, each of which is formed with bifurcated end portions 18 and 80 engaged by the nuts 82 and 84 threaded on'the end of eye members 86 and 88 pivoted to the outer shell 8 of the casing 2.

may be introduced into the casing 2 through the pipe connection 92, a drain pipe 94 being provided for disposing of the condensate therefrom. In; accordance with usual practice, this steam is introduced at about 240 F. for a given length of time, the circulating steam passing out of the casing 2 through the exhaust conduit 93, the flow therein being regulated by the valve 95. The pressure in the device is normally determined by a steam pressure gauge 96 and the excesspressure in the casing 2 is exhausted through the safety valve 98. The temperature in the appa ratus may be determined by means of a thermometer I00. After the'steam or other sterilizing medium has circulated in the casing for a sufficient length of time, the same is shut off and hot water introduced through the conduit 92. The water gradually rises in the casing 2 and the overflow passes out through the outlet conduit I02 controlled-by valve I04. The temperature of the water introduced is gradually lowered until the receptacles and the contents thereof are sufliciently cool so they can be handled.

In operation; the receptacle holding means 36 supporting a plurality of receptacles to be sterilized, is rotated through the medium of the motor 28 in a sterilizing medium which may be introduced through the inlet 92. When the receptacle or the contents thereof have been suitably sterilized, the cover or closure member 14 may be unlocked and the same moved to-a position whereby access to the receptacles 6 may be gained. The receptacles adjacent the opening "may then be removed and replaced by other receptacles to be sterilized and the supporting means 36 rotated sufficiently to move other rows or series of recep tacles into ,a position opposite the opening 12. These receptacles in turn may then be removed and replaced by still further receptacles to be sterilized, and this process repeated until there hasbeen a complete change of bottles or receptacles inthe holding means 36, after which the As, clearly disclosed in Figures 2 and 5 of the draw-.

closure member 74 may be closed and locked and the newly introduced receptacles sterilized as previously disclosed.

In the above paragraphs, it has been pointed out that the sterilizing apparatus as disclosed is adapted for sterilizing receptacles or the contents thereof, and it is to be understood that the term receptacle, as used in the specification and claims, is to be broadly construed to coverfilled or unfilled receptacles.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A receptacle holding device for a sterilizer, comprising rotatable supporting means, oppositely disposed frame members mounted thereon,

an inner and outer row of spaced members extending between said frame members, the members of said rows being substantially in radial alignment, and receptacle retaining members releasably secured to a frame member for preventing radial displacement of said receptacles.

2. In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination of a casing, a shaft mounted therein, oppositely disposed frame members mounted on said shaft, a plurality of radially spaced rows of members disposed in spaced relation extending between said frame members for holding a plurality of rows of said receptacles, a member pivoted to said frame members and engageable with each row of said receptacles for holding the same in place, and releasable locking means for securing said member in engaging relation with said receptacle and torpermit movement thereof for removal of said receptacles.

KARL W. KARNOPP. 

